Too late.
Her irritation churned through the hallways of the Western Palace, stirring Tanselm’s magic like a heavy breeze. At moments like this, I clearly recognized my sister’s awesome power and how good she was at making me feel less like the Guardian of Storm and Killer of Shadow that so many others feared.
I might in fact be the kingdom’s top sorcerer, but I was also her little brother.
She grabbed me by the sleeve and dragged me into a private room off the corridor, much to the shock of several of her retainers. She slammed the door shut, giving us privacy.
“Don’t you dare put me off.” Fury burned in Ravyn’s bright green eyes. Despite her small stature, she was more than a match for me. “I want to know why I can’t see Cadmus now that the brunt of the Netharat has fallen.”
I wanted to shake her, to tell her to take a look around. Djinn had infiltrated the Royal House. Those of Light were not all to be trusted. And creatures of Shadow were now openly invited into Tanselm’s warmth, courtesy of Aerolus’ new wife. Instead, I hugged her tight, knowing I would do everything in my power to make my past mistakes right — mistakes that had cost the kingdom its greatest overking and the rest of a once-great Royal Four.
I squeezed her shoulders and pushed her away enough to look at her. “Ravyn, the walls are not safe here.”
She waved a hand, and visible sparks blanketed the walls, ceiling, and floor, caging us inside. “Now they are. Stop stalling. What’s wrong with Cadmus?”
“Nothing,” I immediately protested, feeling like a small child caught filching a sweet. How did she do that? Was it a motherly thing, or her distinction as overqueen? “Cadmus is fine. I left him with friends, people I’m not at liberty to discuss.” I held up a hand to silence her. “Not even with you.”
She shook her head. “I almost lost Aerolus just a few days ago. Three of my four sons are here, safe with me. I want the last one, and I want him now.” The look she gave me made lesser men tremble.
But I didn’t bow to anyone, not even my sister. Not when it came to our family’s safety. “Older you may be, and queen as well, but I will not jeopardize Cadmus to make you feel better.” I hated her tears and added, “I’m sorry you worry, but to compromise Cadmus to ease your fears would break your heart for certain. Have faith, Ravyn. Cadmus is annoying but fine. When I bring him back, you can set his hair on fire and turn his skin blue if it will make you feel better.”
She chuckled and wiped her eyes. “It’s not as if he doesn’t deserve it.”
If she only knew. I forced myself to smile and escorted her to the door. She removed the magical barrier and followed me into the hallway, where an attractive woman waited.
“Samantha.” Ravyn nodded to her new daughter, Darius’ affai, who stood discreetly against the wall. “Don’t think we won’t discuss these new security measures, Arim,” my sister muttered over her shoulder. “If I didn’t have a meeting with the council now, we’d more than discuss the matter.”
I bowed, my expression deliberately mocking — at her back. Samantha saw and covered her mouth to stifle a grin.
I coughed to hide my laughter. “At your leisure, my queen.”
My sister left the hall with Samantha in tow, not bothering to look at me as she strode toward her conference.
“Nice work.” Darius, my red-eyed nephew and our Prince of Fire, spoke from behind me. “Now how about you tell me where my missing brother really is and why my affai suddenly needs to shadow Mother around the castle?”
I knew I couldn’t put off explanations any longer. I gave my nephew a curt nod, and we walked swiftly to my room in the center of the castle — where I found another nephew lingering, this one with blue eyes. I swore.
Marcus, the River Prince, gave me a cool smile. “Uncle Arim, how lovely to see you.”
“Lovely.” Darius snorted. “Love has made you soft in the head.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow, an arrogant gesture designed to irritate his brother, which it did. He smirked. “Oh? I’m not the one who was seen raiding the larder for my affai’s sweet tooth. Chocolate-covered berberries?”
Darius flushed and his red eyes snapped. Before he could respond, I teleported us all inside my room and reinforced the area with a magical soundproof shield.
“Enough. You two are a constant source of headache. You’d think your affai would keep the both of you busy.” I glared at Marcus. “And speaking of which, where is Tessa? Shouldn’t you both be in the south, strengthening your defenses?”
Marcus shrugged. “Tessa is fine. I’ve been strengthening our defenses since last week. The only reason I’m here is that Mother begged me to come speak with you.”
I groaned. “Perhaps it’s good you’re both here then.” A knock at the door interrupted me. My irritation growing, I released the shield around the room and used magic to yank the door open.
Aerolus stood calmly in the doorway.
“I should have known. Come in.”
The steely-eyed Wind Mage entered as if gliding over the floor. Since wedding Alandra, a Shadow Dweller with incredible magic — Shadow magic — he’d been showing off some powerful skills, talents he was most likely unaware of, as Aerolus was anything but a grandstander.
“A party without me?” He asked, all innocence, making his brothers laugh.
